Soon-to-be octogenarian Fred Nordstrom feted his birthday with a feat most extraordinaire - riding his bike 80 miles Monday.
Setting off from Park Rapids on the Heartland Trail, he was bound for Walker and back. Then he headed a few more miles north to meet his milestone.
He'd put 6.9 miles on the odometer before breakfast.
Oct. 7 is his actual birth date but a Hubbard Bike Club potluck Monday night bumped up his schedule.
Nordstrom was accompanied by granddaughter Ellen Nordstrom and her boyfriend, Mike Engstrom, who arrived from the Twin Cities for the ride. Wife Marj met him at checkpoints along the way (via vehicle).
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It all began five years ago, he explained, when friend and golfer Bill Skelton decided to commemorate his 75th birthday with 75 holes of golf.
Nordstrom determined he'd match this on his bike in the Headwaters 100.
Five years later, after Skelton celebrated his birthday with 80 holes of golf in July, the bicycle enthusiast was back on the trail.
"Bill is already talking about his 85th birthday round of golf," Nordstrom said.
"I quickly changed the subject."
